A stolen heart

It's almost been a month since we got our referral; a much awaited day. Since then, I haven't stopped looking at the pictures of our baby boy. I want to memorize every thing about this sweet child. I want to be able to walk in to the transition house and recognize him instantly. I am so in love with his sweet eyes, the messy hair, the pudgy little nose, the pinch-able cheeks, everything about this precious child brings joy to my heart.

The past few weeks have been difficult. I want to hold my child; it's as if I gave birth and the doctor won't let me hold my baby. It is a bit torturing. I trust God has immaculate timing and I know there is a reason he has made us wait this long, but I am still eager to hold him. To love him. To kiss him. To hug him. To just whisper sweet nothings in his sweet little ears.

As torturing as it is to wait, it is also a joyful time for Anthony and I. We are both on cloud nine about baby boy. Every time my phone lights up in the morning I see his darling face shine on my home screen. Every time I turn log on to the computer his face appears in the back drop. And every time this happens we just sit in awe and admire this child, our son, our baby. It is overwhelming. My heart has definitely been stolen.

Beach Baptism Pictures!

"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.” Acts 2:38

Thank you to the most amazing group of people ever. I love you all.

Fruit & Vegetable in a cup :)

We love juicing vegetables in the Carbon house! Here are some of our favorites recipes we have tried :

1 whole Pomegranate
1 mango
2 apples
1 cup of spinach
5 carrots
6 celery stalks
1 tomato
1/4 cup of blueberries 

1 Cantaloupe
8 Strawberries
1 apple
1 pear
1 grapefruit
(Below is a picture of what the juice looks like)

Enough fruits and veggies to make about 40-48oz of juice

1/2 grapefruit (peeled)
4 carrots
6 large strawberries

1/2 cucumber
2 stalk of celery
1 pear
1 in. of ginger (more if you desire)
1 apple

This is my absolute favorite drink.
3 carrots
1/2 cucumber
2 leaves of kale
1 orange or tangerine

I am adding some more juice mixes that we have made which we have really enjoyed, but I have not taken pictures of:

Juice #1

2 medium carrots

1 apple

1 in. of ginger

Juice # 2

2 leaves of kale

1 cup od parsley

1 medium apple

3 celery stalks

1/2 green bell pepper

Juice # 3

1/2 pineapple (without the rind)
1 cucumber
1 medium pear

We have a SON!

We are so thrilled to have a baby boy! He is the sweetest little boy ever. We are so in love with him and we haven't even held him once. 

Some info about him: He was born on December 16th 2012 and weighs 9lbs and is healthy. His sweet self-less mother brought him to the orphanage on February 22. He has 2 brothers and 1 sister. He came from Oromo tribe. If you want to see a picture of him, email me. I would love to send it to you! 

Please pray for him to continue to be loved, for his health,  for us and for a speedy court date!

Thank you.

Baptism

Through Summit Church, Jesus, has changed my life. He has rocked my world. He has made me new.

This Sunday, April 7th, I am going to be baptized. Not for the first time, but for the first time in this new life, as a new me. For the past, almost, 4 years, we have attended Summit and slowly my life has been changing. It HAS been a slow process, but a process that has filled my life with great joy. I have learned that we love a great God, a God full of mercy, grace and never ending love for me. Yes, me a sinner, a broken, shattered, human being. This realization is incredible. For the first time in my life I have learned to turn to God at my weakest moments. I have learned no matter how 'dark' or 'lonely' I feel in my sinfulness, He loves me. It is a humbling feeling. Recognizing I must set my desire for control, my desire to pull away, my pride, all of it aside for God because He loves me and he wants me to seek Him. This truth has filled so many voids in my heart. Many voids which before I tried filling with earthly things. I realize the only thing that fills me up is Him, His Word, and the Holy Spirit.

God is definitely worthy of all the praise in my life. Even through all the suffering in my life, I know God is there, He will always be there. I never have to fill my self with things, just Him. He never sinned, but yet he gave his live on the cross for me and for you. Now that is something worth giving my life for over and over again.

Burritos Delisiosos

When I used to think of the word vegan I used to think of eating grass or lots of salad haha. I just couldn't imagine ever wanting to eat vegan food none-the-less cooking vegan meals. But early this year I decided to start thinking about the things I am putting in my body. And in return we have ventured into that world we thought we never would...veganism. I don't think we will ever stop eating meat, but it has been nice to eat a lot of vegan food in recent months; it has been an adventure. Anthony's brother and his wife are both vegan so it has been great to connect on that level. So here is to the first vegan meal I have ever cooked, and cheers to many more in our future!

Burritos Mojados

For the filling:

1 table spoon olive oil

3/4 cup chopped onions

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 cups of pinto beans, mashed

2 cups of cooked quiona (if you need recipe for this I will add it below)

1 jalapeno, deseeded and minced

For mole sauce:

2 cups tomato puree

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons of cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

For Chipotle Lime Sauce:

1 cup of raw cashews, soaked for 3 hours and drained

3/4 cup plain almond milk

3 table spoons of freash lime juice

2 table spoons of minced onions

1 1/2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon of paprika

3/4 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of miced garlic

1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder

To assemble:

6  12-inch tortillas (your favorite...we used coconut flour ones just make sure they are vegan)

1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce

2 avocados, sliced

1 cup diced tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup of chopped scallions

1. For filling, in large skillet over medium heat, saute onions in olive oil for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and chili powder, and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in beans, quinoa, jalapenos and salt. Turn off heat and keep covered.
2. For the mole sauce, in a saucepan , whisk together all ingredients, then heat on low for 5 minutes and set aside.
3. For the chipotle lime 'cheese' sauce, in a high speed blender (I used a magic bullet), combine all ingredients and blend for 2 to 3 minutesuntil it is smooth.
4. To assemble, fill tortilla with 1/2 cup of filling, 1/4 cup of shredded lettuce and 3 to 4 slices of avocado. Fold ends and roll to wrap and place them with their seam down. Pour 1/2 cup mole sauce and 3 table spoons of the 'cheese' sauce on top. Add all the topping you wish :)